Last Oasis of the School Year!

So this last Wednesday night---May 9th---was the last Oasis of the school year. Sad.... and happy! Sad because we'll now have a number of short breaks this summer (we're back ON for 2 weeks starting June 6th). But happy because it really was a great year at Oasis! There is such an amazing group of students that make up Oasis! It's fun to think back over the events we had, the memories we made, and the Savior we worshipped. Thank You, Jesus, for seeing us through another school year!!

This last Wednesday we closed the year on a talk about what it means to "be a disciple" of Jesus. So many of us simply consider ourselves "Christians" (and that term is fine!) but the hard thing about it is that it can mean almost anything at all to be a Christian. And I say that because that term ("Christian") is not defined anywhere in the Bible. And so, while it's totally fine for us to call ourselves that (we've been called that for centuries, after all), it can be difficult because there are people on both sides of every political view and on both sides of every ethical and moral issue and every social issue that would call themselves Christians. See, the Bible only uses the term "Christian" 3 times. The followers of Jesus were given a different term... perhaps a more direct and narrow term... they were, of course, called "disciples." It's pretty easy to define what a disciple is according to the Bible. The word "disciple" or "disciples" is used over 300 times in Scripture!!

My primary concern is not what students call themselves, though. My primary concern is that they know what a disciple of Jesus looks like... my main premise was that they should see "disciple of Jesus" as their identity and everything else as a role. If you're a Christian, you're a disciple first, and a student, employee, baseball player, show choir performer, or guitarist, etc. second.* 

*In the Great Commission, some of the last words Jesus said to His disciples before He left earth, He gave 3 aspects that make up a disciple's identity:

1. Rational - you're a learner. There is content to the Gospel and to being a disciple. There are facts to know. Now, discipleship is NOT fundamentally about how we perform or what we know, but about who we are. Most of us get this backwards. It starts with who we are in Christ. Out of that flows new actions, thoughts, and behaviors. Here are some good "nutshells" of these facts: *"We are imperfect people, clinging to a perfect Christ, being perfected by the Spirit." Another is, "The wonderful news of the Gospel is that Jesus frees us from trying to impress God or others because He has impressed God on our behalf. Jesus was perfect for us, in our place." 
2. Relational - as a disciple, you are part of a community. You are a member of the body of Christ. We should fight hard against the urge to be individualistic, self-centered, or narcissictic. It's not just about us. We were saved into the body of Christ---the Church. This is so hard for us to get our minds around, since our Western culture is SO individualistic. But we need to model this to the world. Being saved by the grace of God, we should in turn give grace to everyone else. Most importantly, the disciple is now living in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are one with Christ; united with Him. We should talk and relate with Jesus like we would anyone else. 
3. Missional - you're a missionary. You've been given a task as a disciple of Jesus. So as you live in community with the Church and with the content of the gospel, you build relationships with non-believers and talk to them about what Jesus has done. 

Read Matthew 28:19-20 for yourself and see how these 3 aspects pop out. 

If Jesus would have remained dead, all further discipleship to Jesus would have ceased. But Jesus didn't remain dead. He's fully alive today, in the flesh even---in a perfected, resurrection body. He's just not on the earth, but in heaven. So being a disciple of Jesus continues. The real question is "will you fight to be a disciple of Jesus?"

Consider these 3 aspects often as you head into the summer. 

*Much of this content is from Jonathan Dodson, found in his book Gospel-Centered Discipleship.

Life Issues - Week #1

The Influence of Media

Do Not Love the World - 1 John 2:15-17 

James Pruch

This last Wednesday we started a new series in Oasis called "Life Issues," talking about some of the everyday life stuggles and influences we have. Every day, whether we realize it or not, we are influenced. Perhaps the most significant way that this happens is through media. Media is simply the many channels of communication that try to get us to love something, namely ourselves! Whether it is wearing Axe Body Spray to get the girls or logging onto to Facebook to envy someone's life or possessions, we are influenced by communication. The problem isn't media (whether social, news, entertainment or otherwise), per se. The problem is that we use media to get what we want. We use media to get approval from others, comfort in life, and power over people and our destiny. 

The Apostle John writes to some Christians 2,000 years ago who never had iPhones or Facebook or body sprays or designer clothes. But they were continually at risk to love things other than God. Most of John’s first letter is about how loving God leads to loving others. But in our passage, John takes a detour from talking about loving others, to address loving the world. He talks about loving the world because he wants to make his point clear:If you love the world, you cannot love God. And if you do not love God then you cannot love other people.

 In 1 John 2:16, John points out three things that are "in the world." First, he points out the desires of the flesh. This comes from our inner sinful nature that move us to want what is contrary to what God wants. Second, he mentions the desires of the eyes. We see things that are pleasing to our eye and we crave them. This could also mean any kind of intellectual desires or aesthetic desires—things that are not necessarily tangible. Finally, join points to pride in possessions (or life). This is pride in what we have. One scholar wrote that this person seeks to "impress everyone he meets with his own non-existent importance.” So John boils what is in the world down to three things. These three things are basically summarized like this: an unhealthy desire in what we do not have and an unhealthy pride in what we do have.

What we see is that sin is inherently anti-social! Life becomes a refrain of “I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want!" When our lives sing this tune, we cannot love God, or other people for that matter. We are in the darkness and are blind and cannot tell where we are going. If you love the world, you cannot love God. But if you read John, what we see is that Jesus came to do away with this kind of life. The world--this narcissistic kind of living--is controlled by the evil one (John 12:31; 16:11) and 1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the work of the devil.” We can draw the conclusion then that John essentially says, “Do not love what Jesus came to destroy.”

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to destroy this kind of life so we can love God. Jesus destroyed the desire for approval because, by faith in him, we are approved by the Father. He destroyed the desire for comfort because our true comfort lies in the fact that we no longer serve the devil as our father, but we serve God as our Father. Jesus destroyed a desire for power because we can rest assured that he reigns over the world, so we do not need to reign over anyone--even ourselves. 

Media—the world—offers you what you can only find in Jesus. You may not believe this. But only Jesus can deliver because his promises come with a new life. And faith in him is the only way to receive him and the new life he gives. He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy leaden, and I will give you rest.” He said, “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink.” Go to him. He wants you to come. That might mean getting rid of Facebook or TV or a cell phone. It might mean simply cutting back. Whatever the case, God must be our treasure, not the world. As John says, "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

A Prayer about the Good of Good Friday - by Scotty Smith

This post was originally posted here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2012/04/06/a-prayer-about-the-good-of-good-friday-3/

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”Luke 23:34

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46

     Dear Lord Jesus, it’s the painfully glorious day in Holy Week we call “Good Friday.” I’ve always felt somewhat conflicted about calling the day of your crucifixion “good.” On one hand, it seems quite insensitive and self-serving. That there had to be a day when you, the God who made us for yourself, would be made sin for us is not good at all. The necessity of your cross underscores the crisis of our condition, the “badness” of our brokenness, the darkness of the day.

     But on the other hand—the bigger hand, that you freely and fully give yourself for us on the cross is quintessential, archetypal, never-to-be surpassed goodness. There never has been and there never will be anything more deserving of the appellation “good” than your death for us, Lord Jesus.

     For out of the same heart and the same mouth came these two cries from the cross: “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34) and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). The first required the second. The second secured the first. Taken together, both of them buckle my knees, still my heart, and loose my tongue for proclaiming the greatness of your glory and grace.

     How can I begin to offer you worthy worship in response to what you’ve accomplished for us on the cross? It’s like wanting to paint the most magnificent landscape I’ve ever seen, but with a palate of three colors and both of my arms in a cast. It’s like having a passion to write a great symphony in honor of you but knowing I’m just a kazoo player who doesn’t read music. It’s like desiring to cook you a great banquet with my microwave oven, a loaf of white bread, and a can of processed cheese.

     There’s no way any of us can possibly offer a response congruent to the magnificence of your mercy and the measure of your grace for us at Calvary. So like everything else we have to offer you, Jesus, take our humble praise and purify it, magnify it, and cause it to be a sweet aroma in your heart. “This, the pow’r of the cross: Son of God—slain for us. What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.”

     No one could ever take your life from you, and we could never find life on our own. Because you were fully forsaken, we are forever forgiven. Because you exhausted God’s judgment against our foul sin, we now live by the gift of your perfect righteousness. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! So very Amen we pray, in your all-glorious, all-gracious name.

Heaven & Hell

In Oasis this week, we started a new series called "Heaven & Hell." We'll talk about hell the first 2 weeks and heaven the second 2 weeks. Ryan showed this video this last Wednesday to introduce the topic and his talk.

Reading The Stories And Missing The Story- Tullian Tchividjian

This was originally posted here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2012/02/27/reading-the-stories-and-missing-the-story/ 

It’s possible to read the Bible, study the Bible, and memorize large portions of the Bible, while missing the whole point of the Bible. It’s entirely possible, in other words, to read the stories and miss the Story.

This is what happened to the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.

They were dejected, down, and despairing because the one they had put all their hope in had just been executed. They heard “rumors” that he was missing from the grave but, as far as they knew, these were unsubstantiated claims. As they were walking and talking Jesus came up and walked with them “but they were kept from recognizing him.” Jesus asked them, “What are you two talking about? Why are you so sad?” Looking strangely at this stranger, they asked, “Where have you been? Don’t you know what’s just happened? It’s the talk of the town.” They went on to explain that the one they were banking on to restore Israel to it’s national and political prominence had just been put to death. Their hopes had been dashed, their dreams shattered.

Jesus looked at them and said, “Do you not read your Bibles?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27). Jesus showed them that if they had understood what the Old Testament was really about, they wouldn’t have been so shocked by the things that had happened. They knew their Bible’s, but they missed Jesus.

Luke 24:21 tells us what they thought the Bible was about. They read it as if it was fundamentally about their glory–Jesus was coming to restore their prominence, position, and power.

We make the same mistake.

As I mentioned in my last post, we often read the Bible as if it were fundamentally about us: our improvement, our life, our triumph, our victory. And as a result we treat it like a book of timeless principles that will give us our best life now if we simply apply those principles. We treat it, in other words, like it’s a heaven-sent self-help manual. But by looking at the Bible as if it were fundamentally about us, we totally miss Jesus–like the two on the road to Emmaus. In fact, unless we go to the Bible to see Jesus and his work for us, even our devout Bible reading can become fuel for our own narcissistic self-improvement plans.

So, if we read the Bible asking first, “What would Jesus do?” instead of asking “What has Jesus done” we’ll miss the good news that alone can set us free.

As I’ve said before, the overwhelming focus of the Bible is not the work of the redeemed but the work of the Redeemer. The Bible is not first a recipe book for Christian living, but a revelation book of Christ who is the answer to our unchristian living. Scripture, in other words, is the portrait of Jesus. It’s a picture of who he is and what he’s done. The Bible tells one story and points to one figure: it tells the story of how God rescues a broken world and points to Christ who accomplishes this. The OT predicts God’s rescuer; the NT presents God’s rescuer. In all of its pages and throughout all of its stories, the Word of the Lord reveals the Lord of the Word. The plot line of the Bible, in other words, is Jesus-centered. He is the Hero of the Story.

Even though it’s a children’s Bible, The Jesus Storybook Bible is, in my opinion, one of the best resources available to help both children and adults see the Jesus-centered story line of the Bible.

In the Introduction of that book, author Sally Lloyd-Jones rightly explains what the Bible is not before she beautifully explains what the Bible is. She writes:

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose), they get afraid and run away. At times, they’re downright mean.

No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescue the ones he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is…it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in the puzzle-the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

For an amazing article by Sally on the need to teach children that the Bible is not about them, go here.

And here’s a message I gave on the subject of what we miss when we don’t read the Bible in a Christ-Centered way. This message was delivered at the 20/20 College Conference 2012 at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary a few weeks ago.